Biography
The knotty, kinetic compositions of multinational ensemble Aufgang draw on the classical schooling of its members together with their deep roots in dance music circles. The original trio—pianist/composers Francesco Tristano and Rami Khalifé plus drummer Aymeric Westrich—issued its self-titled debut, a set of intricate genre-blending works, through InFiné in 2009. Over time the music moved toward greater accessibility, and after Tristano’s exit the duo explored pop, Middle Eastern, and techno currents on 2016’s Turbulences and 2021’s Broad Ways.
Francesco Tristano and Rami Khalifé—son of Lebanese oud master Marcel Khalifé and brother of pianist/percussionist Bachar Khalifé—first performed together as piano students at New York’s Juilliard School of Music in the early 2000s. Adding Westrich, the three musicians made their bow as Aufgang at Barcelona’s Sónar festival in 2005. Khalifé also appeared on Tristano’s acclaimed 2007 album Not for Piano, which fused techno, classical, and jazz. The group’s self-titled debut followed on InFiné in 2009, with the Air on Fire EP arriving the next year. Their second album, Istiklaliya, surfaced in 2013 and pushed the sound into more accessible, club-oriented territory than the challenging debut. Tristano departed in 2014, leaving the remaining pair to sign with Blue Note for the vocal-heavy third album Turbulences in 2016. They returned in 2021 with Broad Ways, extending their fusion of Arabic and European traditions.
Francesco Tristano and Rami Khalifé—son of Lebanese oud master Marcel Khalifé and brother of pianist/percussionist Bachar Khalifé—first performed together as piano students at New York’s Juilliard School of Music in the early 2000s. Adding Westrich, the three musicians made their bow as Aufgang at Barcelona’s Sónar festival in 2005. Khalifé also appeared on Tristano’s acclaimed 2007 album Not for Piano, which fused techno, classical, and jazz. The group’s self-titled debut followed on InFiné in 2009, with the Air on Fire EP arriving the next year. Their second album, Istiklaliya, surfaced in 2013 and pushed the sound into more accessible, club-oriented territory than the challenging debut. Tristano departed in 2014, leaving the remaining pair to sign with Blue Note for the vocal-heavy third album Turbulences in 2016. They returned in 2021 with Broad Ways, extending their fusion of Arabic and European traditions.
Albums
Singles
